Every now and then you hear or read a story about someone finding a real “barn find”. I too have read these stories and said why that couldn’t be me, well in the summer of 2009 it was me. This barn find turned out to be a 1940 Chevrolet convertible that was put on blocks in 1969 in a dirt floor garage less than 5 miles from my house. I have driven by this house hundreds of times never knowing there was a garage under the house never less an old car.
It started on a Saturday in August when my cousin Robert (nicknamed buzzy) stopped by for his weekly visit and drink of coffee. He told me that while doing a job at a home in our town, the two brothers who lived there asked him if he was related to that guy who was fire chief and collected old cars (me). He said yes he was, they asked him if he would call me and see if I’d be interested in a car that their father had owned a 1941 Chevrolet Convertible. After a phone call and a visit I agreed to see the car, I really expected it to be a rust bucket not worth much. Boy was I wrong!
Two weeks later Buzzy, who has his mothers 1951 ford 2 door custom and his 1966 Galaxy convertible sitting in his own barn, picks me up and off we go to see what I think is a 1941 Convertible. We arrive and after a conversation about the car, they unlock a garage door. Behind the door is a 1940 Chevrolet Convertible covered with a canvas and up on blocks. The history of the car, as explained by the brothers is that their dad, who owned a gas station took it in trade for work done on the car. A young man owned the car and was doing work on it when he joined the Navy in 1966 or 67. He came by to say he was leaving for the service and all he could offer to pay his repair bill was the car. The brother’s father took it in trade for what was owed.
Shortly after this the father died and the brothers took over operation of the gas station. One of the brothers (Sal) started to drive the car and continued to repair it. On many Sundays Sal would drive the car along the Connecticut shoreline enjoying the ride and sunshine. The brother also did some work to the car, putting on a new Convertible top, valve job to the engine and a few other repairs. In 1969 they brought it home and put it up on blocks in the garage. Being automotive inclined they put oil in the cylinders, drained the antifreeze, let the air out of the tires and put a cover over the car.
The brothers where still not really sure they wanted to sell the car. They especially did not want to have it street rodded and even hinted they would like me to keep it the original color black. Buzzy called me a week later to see if I had secured the sale. I told him no I don’t think so. He suggested I drive my 48 Chevrolet Fleetline over to their house to show them how I finish cars. I did just that and I think it made the sale. We agreed on the price (actually Sal said what he wanted and I said yes).
So on September 4th, I borrowed a flatbed car hauler from a friend and picked up the car from the garage. Upon my arrival, Sal had blown up the tires and taken the car off blocks. The wheels rolled and out of the garage it came up onto the car hauler. Once out into the sunlight I could see under the car and realized (I was expecting to see lots of rust) the good condition it was in, not one hole in the floor or trunk. Sal then told me he had a few parts for the car. He had extra fenders, running boards, grill, radiator, and many dash parts and a wiring harness. I had to come back with my Ranchero to pick them up. This was a blessing in disguise as I found out mice had gotten into the radiator (the cap was off) and there where no running boards on the car. Also included in the pile of parts was a set of shark tooth wheel discs.
With the car and all the parts home, I began to investigate my new purchase. While at one time loaded with mice it took a while to clean out the car. With a little help the engine could be turned by hand. Within two weeks and the help of a few friends (plus a new gas tank and carburetor rebuilding kit) the engine started right up at first try. The car even made it’s first car show in October 2009 after a good compounding and waxing. I completed a though inspection (after a month of cleaning) and found that the engine had a lot of rust in the water jacket, so the motor was taken apart and cleaned. While that took place the valves and seats were changed to allow using the newer gasoline. I have decided not to paint the car (It was repainted once in the early 60’s) but a good compounding and waxing brought back the black paint nicely.
In the past few years I have replaced the red leather seats but not the door panels had much of the bright work rechomed and replaced the wiring harness. We enjoy the car all summer long and receive many compliments.
